章節 281: The Exam Begins
The most crucial information came from the Nine-Tails within him. Through the Nine-Tails, Naruto learned about the events of the night he was born—the same night as the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha.
Kushina Uzumaki had used her Adamantine Sealing Chains to suppress the Nine-Tails, while Minato Namikaze performed the Reaper Death Seal, sealing his soul and half of the Nine-Tails' chakra inside the belly of the Shinigami.
Thus, Naruto knew that his father's soul was inside the Shinigami and not in the Pure Land, making him immune to the Reanimation Jutsu. This was why the Fourth Hokage had not appeared alongside the First and Second Hokage in Konoha.
Both the Reaper Death Seal and Adamantine Sealing Chains were Uzumaki clan techniques, abilities engraved in Naruto's bloodline. Through diligent study, Naruto mastered these techniques on his own.
Moreover, Naruto was currently using the power of his Rinnegan to find a way to break the Reaper Death Seal. If successful, he could not only resurrect his father, Minato Namikaze, but also help the Nine-Tails reclaim its other half of the chakra, becoming the perfect Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Naruto was determined to achieve this.
"I see," Konan finally understood why Naruto was not in a hurry. She had great confidence in him. After all, Naruto's Rinnegan had the power to control the King of Hell. Compared to that, dealing with the Shinigami seemed less daunting.
"However..." Naruto suddenly changed the topic, his expression becoming more serious. "The failure of the First and Second Hokage to invade Konoha means that Sarutobi Hiruzen's exiled government won't give up. They will surely have more plans. Additionally, my Rinnegan has been acting strangely since earlier, constantly twitching..."
"Are you okay, Naruto? Have you been too tired lately, not getting enough rest?" Konan asked with concern, having noticed Naruto's uncontrollable eye twitching, something that had never happened before.
"Probably just lack of sleep," Naruto laughed it off, not wanting Konan to worry about him. But deep down, he had a bad feeling.
He sensed that his Rinnegan seemed restless, eager to leave him and return to its true master. Could it be that Madara Uchiha had also been revived?
"Naruto, what's wrong? What are you thinking about?" Konan's voice brought Naruto back to reality.
"Nothing," Naruto replied with a forced smile before turning serious again. "I have a feeling something big is about to happen in the ninja world. Perhaps staying hidden here isn't the best strategy. I should go to Konoha to take proactive measures against Uchiha Dan."
Konan fell silent for a moment, then spoke up, "I'll prepare a sacrifice for the Elephant Transfer Jutsu."
"No need, Konan-sensei," Naruto interrupted, his expression resolute. "This time, I'm going in person."
What?! Konan was shocked, her eyes widening.
Naruto explained, "Don't worry about me. I know how powerful Uchiha Dan is and won't rush into Konoha. Don't forget, that Gaara has already infiltrated Konoha and will work with me from the inside. I'll observe the situation and act accordingly.
Even if Uchiha Dan targets me, I have a means of escape. With our Rinnegan, he won't be able to stop me if I decide to leave."
Konan was indeed worried, but she also knew that Naruto had surpassed Nagato long ago. She should have faith in him.
"Alright, I'll go with you, like last time, and use my Paper Person of God Technique to cover you," she offered.
To her surprise, Naruto declined, "No, it's more convenient for me to move alone."
Konan was taken aback, then her eyes turned serious, "Are you saying I'd be a burden?"
"Uh, that's not what I meant," Naruto hastily waved his hands, sweating nervously. As he struggled to find the right words, Konan sighed, "Never mind. You're right. Nagato stayed behind to cover my retreat and ended up dying at Uchiha Dan's hands."
"Konan-sensei, don't blame yourself..." Naruto tried to comfort her.
Konan interrupted, "Just promise me one thing—no matter what happens, come back safely. I'll be here waiting for you."
"...Okay," Naruto nodded firmly.
"Take this," Konan said, handing him an origami crane and tucking it into his clothes. May this protect you."
"Konan-sensei..." Naruto grabbed her hand, his eyes filled with unspoken emotions.
Facing his intense gaze, Konan's heart raced, and she turned her head away, unable to meet his eyes.
"Sorry, I lost my composure," Naruto let go, feeling awkward. Konan had always been like a mother to him, taking care of and teaching him. How could he...
After bidding Konan farewell, Naruto left the Akatsuki base.
Three days later, in Konoha, the Chūnin Exams were about to begin.
The Chūnin Exams had always been a crucial event for assessing the strength of each ninja village. This time, Konoha hosted the most grandiose Chūnin Exams in history, with a record number of participants.
Apart from Konoha, the four great ninja villages had recovered over the eight years since the Fourth Great Ninja War, producing numerous talented ninjas eager to compete.
The village with the most successful Chūnin candidates would be considered the strongest, proving their superiority.
Of course, the biggest suspense was who would emerge as the top ninja among over a thousand contestants.
In the ninja world, geniuses always attracted the most attention, praise, and admiration like in the previous Jonin Exams, where Sasuke Uchiha emerged as the champion, earning the title of Konoha's and even the ninja world's top genius.
This time, the Genin participants all aspired to become the next Sasuke Uchiha, making the competition fiercer than ever.
Even before the exams started, there had already been numerous skirmishes between participants from different villages, resulting in some being disqualified.
Besides physical confrontations, an intense information war was also underway.
The most watched participant was undoubtedly Konoha's top seed, Marissa Uchiha.
As the daughter of the Sixth Hokage, Uchiha Dan, her mere identity drew everyone's attention. Marissa had proven herself by dominating the ninja academy, even defeating some Jonin-level students.
With the home-field advantage, her impressive skills, and a powerful father, Marissa was clearly aiming for the championship.
However, other participants were equally ambitious, aiming to defeat Marissa and claim victory.
After careful preparations, the highly anticipated Chūnin Exams finally began.
With over a thousand participants, the competition was fierce. The first written test eliminated a third of the candidates, with four hundred failing, nearly including Marissa.
Clearly, Marissa, like her father, excelled in physical combat but struggled with written exams. Fortunately, her last-minute cramming saved her from a humiliating early exit.
In the second round, the remaining seven hundred participants formed teams to navigate the vast Forest of Death, aiming to acquire scrolls from other teams and reach the central tower.
This round was even more brutal, with inevitable bloodshed.
Determined to prove herself, Marissa chose to go solo. Using her iron fists, she defeated all obstacles and collected a pile of scrolls, reaching the central tower first.
After another harsh selection, fewer than two hundred participants remained.
All two hundred were promoted to Chūnin.
While the exam could have ended there, the third round was the highlight, featuring one-on-one battles to determine the true champions.
With no restrictions, the newly promoted Chūnin could fight with full strength.
Many had held back in the earlier rounds, conserving energy and observing opponents, waiting for this final opportunity to shine.
The preliminary matches for the third round began, with participants divided into groups to compete.
After three days of intense battles, eight Chūnin emerged as the finalists.
Today, the quarterfinals will take place in Konoha's newly built stadium, which will accommodate a hundred thousand spectators and be equipped with hundreds of cameras to broadcast the event worldwide.
The ticket sales alone had made Konoha a fortune.
The stadium buzzed with excitement, the audience's cheers reaching the sky.
In the highest stands, alongside the Sixth Hokage, the leaders of the five great ninja villages and various dignitaries prepared to enjoy the upcoming spectacle.
Finally, the quarterfinals began.
Marissa was the first to compete.
"Look, that's the daughter of the strongest ninja, the Sixth Hokage Uchiha Dan. Like father, like daughter. Marissa's muscles are just like her father's," one spectator noted.
"Is she really only eight? Even the adult ninjas from the Hidden Cloud Village aren't as strong as her. How did she get so muscular at eight?" another wondered.
"Stop talking, the match is starting," someone else urged.
Amid the buzz of the crowd, Marissa faced her opponent—a sixteen-year-old prodigy from the Hidden Mist Village, resembling a fish with his unique appearance.
"Marissa, facing you must be my lucky day," the Mist ninja taunted, hoping to rattle her. "Your previous opponents were weak. You'll soon realize I'm on a different level. Get ready to beg for mercy."
He grinned, revealing sharp teeth.
"Kneeling and begging for mercy sounds like a good idea," Marissa smiled brightly, showing off her own white teeth. "I've decided, if you don't do that, my fists won't stop until I beat you to death."
Her innocent tone made her threat even more chilling.
The Mist ninja's face paled, intimidated by Marissa's aura.
"Begin!" the referee announced, starting the match.
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